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Feb 7 Twin Peaks Tour with Showers Pass

For me, no trip is complete without bringing along my bike. After booking tickets to visit one of my teammates Becca in Seattle, I hopped online to search the surrounding area for ride destinations - and found the filming locations for Twin Peaks were just an hour outside the city.

Knowing I’m not a fan of wet, cold weather, I reached out to Showers Pass to test a few of their pieces guaranteed to keep me and my friend dry: their Lightweight Waterproof Crosspoint Socks, Waterproof Knit Gloves, and Rogue Hoodie. I’d tested out the socks and gloves at a demo day a few months back. They felt just like regular knit gloves, but after trying them on and fully submerging them in a bowl of water, I was amazed that they held up to their fully-waterproof claim. But how would they fare during a 40- to 50-mile ride?

The Ride

e took the bus out to Issiquah, skipping several miles of urban roads to start with the scenic miles. But on an unusually clear day for the Pacific Northwest, even our bus route offered scenic views on either side of mountains and trees.

The Road House (Fall City, Washington)

We pedaled from Issiquah along a two-lane highway lined by farms and small homes on spacious plots. Arriving at the Fall City Road House Restaurant & Inn, we angled for a photo with the sign, but a sixth-grade basketball team waited right in our path.

Snoqualmie Falls & Salish Lodge & Spa (Snoqualmie, WA)

Next we moved on to Snoqualmie Falls, one of the most iconic sites immortalized in the opening credits of Twin Peaks. The falls are located at the top of a long, winding 4% grade that didn’t feel awful - even for a weak climber like me!

Reaching the top, we competed for space along the photogenic vista to take in the falls (and snag a photo), then visited the Great Northern Hotel - otherwise known as the Salish Lodge & Spa - overlooking Snoqualmie Falls. It strayed from a Twin Peaks-themed decor but indulged fans through a full table of themed souvenirs at the gift shop.

Outside the Lodge.

We descended down the road along the Snoqualmie River and stumbled upon Snoqualmie Mill Pond. On a clear day, it provides an incredible view of Mount Si - and plenty of motorists stopped to snag a photo, too. My friend and I each dipped our gloves in the water to test out the waterproofing in-person - and they definitely held up!

Site of the Twin Peaks Sign & Reinig Bridge (Snoqualmie, WA)

We continued down Reinig Road to seek out one of the most iconic shots from the series. The sign welcoming people into Twin Peaks stating no longer exists, but the scenic vista still does.

We headed back up the road to reach “Ronette’s Bridge”, a trestle bridge that used to be lined with railroad tracks to transport lumber, but has been renovated into the Snoqualmie Valley Trail for riding, running, and hiking.. You’ll need to carry your bike up, but after that the trail is smooth enough to tackle on a road bike and 23” tires (but beware of stray balls the golf course it cuts through)!

Twede’s Cafe (North Bend, WA)

After a few miles down the trail, our pace flagged - we were in desperate need of coffee. Luckily, we made it to our turnoff quickly, riding down Main Street in North Bend. Twede’s Cafe - or Double R Diner - welcomed us on the left, and we felt safe enough leaving our bikes by the window in this sleepy town.

Unlike the Salish Lodge, Twede’s Cafe didn’t go light on its homage to Twin Peaks - everything tied into the show from the menus to signs for pie and coffee. It even served as the shooting location for the newest season. We tucked into veggie burgers, coffee, and some fine cherry pie to fuel our ride back.

Ride Back to Issaquah

We took a detour from the original route once we reached the Road House onto Issaquah Fall City Road, winding past sleepy houses and rolling hills with a few major climbs nestled next to Duthie Hill Park (which hosts a network of mountain bike trails). I could feel the cold on my neck whipping down the hills in the brisk air at dusk, but fortunately, my jacket and gloves kept the cold at bay. Back at the bus depot in Issaquah, we loaded our bikes up for the ride back to Seattle - and more food to refuel after the steep climbs back.